• published: 15 Jun 2013
• views: 12

Iran Vote: Cleric Rouhani Elected President Moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani wins Iran's presidential election, defeating hard-liners. 6:20pm UK, Saturday 15 June 2013 IRAN-VOTE-ROWHANI-FILES Hassan Rouhani was seen as the most moderate among the candidates Email By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent Moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani has won Iran's presidential election, the interior minister has announced. Mr Rouhani has secured just over 50% of the vote, avoiding a run-off. Interior Minister Mohammad Mostafa Najjar said that, with 18.6 million votes, or 50.6%, Mr Rouhani had won outright. Mr Rouhani won last minute momentum from reformists whose own favoured candidates had been barred from standing in the election. The Guardian Council had restricted those able to run to a list of six candidates all considered conservative - and some with hard-line credentials like the former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Mr Rouhani's campaign was endorsed by centrist former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who himself was barred from running. Iran election The turnout from Friday's balloting stood at over 72% Mr Rouhani received a big further boost when reformists led by ex-president Mohammad Khatami swung behind him after their own lacklustre candidate, Mohammad Reza Aref, withdrew in his favour. Four years ago Iran was accused of vote-rigging to secure a second term for hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mr Rouhani's victory should mean there is no repeat of the days of protests seen after Mr Ahmadinejad's victory - something Iran's ruling clerics were desperate to avoid. There are already deep domestic problems to deal with. Iran's economy is in its worst state for decades with high inflation, soaring unemployment and negative growth. The value of Iran's currency, the rial, has more than halved in a year, with the collapse blamed on government mismanagement and sanctions against the energy and banking sectors imposed by the US and EU over the country's nuclear programme. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot at his office in central Tehran The Supreme leader has not said publicly who he voted for Although foreign policy rests with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the president steers the economy and day-to-day issues. Mr Rouhani has an established track record on the world stage. He is a close ally of Mr Rafsanjani, a pragmatic conservative. He twice served as head of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005. He has publicly criticised the outgoing president's nuclear and economic policies, accusing him of doing nothing to address unemployment. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf speaks at a campaign rally in Khomeinishahr in central Iran Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf came in a distant second We know that high on Mr Rouhani's list of priorities will be getting sanctions lifted. He prided himself in his campaign video on being a former nuclear negotiator who had kept the nuclear programme going without bringing sanctions or war on Iran. He is quoted as saying: "We need to move away from extremism. We should maintain the country's interests and national security to provide conditions where we create opportunities." Mr Rouhani says he wants Iran's position to be articulated in a more coherent way. He says: "The nuclear issue will only be resolved through real negotiations, not just announcements. "Iran's foreign policy should be placed in the hands of skilled, experienced people - not people who do not know what they are talking about. "It is very good for nuclear centrifuges to spin, it is also good for the lives of people to spin." Mr Rouhani has also pledged to establish a Ministry of Women's Affairs and give women equal rights and pay. He says women who head households should get financial support. Mr Rouhani's nearest rival was conservative Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a long way behind with 6.07 million, or 16.5% of the vote. (Sky News Foreign Affairs Correspondent Lisa Holland was refused a visa to travel to Iran to cover the election. She compiled this report in London.)